Yes to number 1
For numbers 2, 3, and 5, I'd say that some people learn to do these  
things without direct instruction.  And how "hard" it is depends on  
the individual.  (My dear wife learned how to read at about the age of  
four, without any instruction.)
Item 4:  Where/When does "direct instruction" in reading complex texts  
occur?  It only happened to me once, as a college senior in a course  
called Colloquium.  An instructor sat at either end of a long table,  
with four students on each side.  They would ask questions such as,  
"Point out something PARTICULARLY subtle about  this book," and call  
on each student in turn.  And then they cut us down, regardless of  
what we said.  I'd call this rather indirect instruction, though I  
learned more about how to read complex texts from this course than  
from any other.
I don't much care for six.  Learning WHAT about language, and how  
deeply?



On Sep 21, 2010, at 11:54 AM, Craig Hancock wrote:

>    I am interested in whether the following would be thought of as  
> consensus positions among those of you on list (self-proclaimed as  
> interested in the teaching of English grammar). I am certainly open  
> to a list discussion, but those of you who would feel more  
> comfortable just saying yes/no (or maybe) and/or those of you who  
> would prefer to be anonymous can also feel free to email me directly  
> and save wear and tear on the list. If the response is strong, I'll  
> pass on the results. Unlike some surveys in our recent history, I  
> don't presuppose a right answer and am happy to listen to nuanced  
> responses. It's not a trick quiz.
>
> 1)  Acquiring a language is easy for a native speaker. It happens  
> naturally, without direct instruction.
>
> 2) Achieving high levels of literacy is hard, but for the most part  
> it happens without direct instruction.
>
> 3) Acquiring the language of Standard English is hard, but for the  
> most part it happens without direct instruction.
>
> 4)  Learning to read complex texts is hard, but for the most part it  
> happens without direct instruction.
>
> 5) Learning to write effectively is hard, but for the most part it  
> happens without direct instruction.
>
> 6) Learning about language is hard. It does not happen without  
> direct instruction.
>
> Craig
>
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